A book you own but have never read..

[shadowkat]

That's today's prompt for the seemingly endless book challenge.

My pick? Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky

I keep picking it up to read it - but never manage to. It's one of those books - I mean to read, but am either never in the mood or don't have the time or focus.

I know it's brilliant, although whether the translation that I happen to own is or not - is another issue entirely. That's the problem with literature published in a language other than one's own - you have to depend on a translation. It's either that or learn the language - and I don't foresee myself learning Russian any time soon - even if I live in a building with a bunch of people who apparently only speak Russian. Some speak Polish. I honestly can't hear the difference. I've tried. Moscow co-worker (he hails from Moscow) will correct me every once and a while.

Me: Alex (the vendor) is Russian -
Moscow: No Polish.
Me: Peter is Russian -
Moscow: No, Polish.

Moscow knows three languages - Russian, Polish, and English, also a little bit of Spanish. I forgive him his issues with English - because honestly he has three - four languages. I only know one well, and have some broken third grade level French to play around with.

Comments

[avrelia]

I feel like I should have an opinion on Dostoevsky, but I don't.

I read Crime and Punishment in high school, because it was required reading, and I liked it, but people say other books by Dostoevsky are better or easier to get through, and I have no idea. The books I read - like Idiot - were not easier, but I haven't read much, and don't feel like reading him now.

[shadowkat]

I read the Idiot and his short stories in College. Along with various other Russian philosophers and short story writers. But it was over 30 years ago, and I can't remember them that well.

Some people love him - but they also love depressing somber literary works, with lots of poetic prose.

Thank you for the recs by the way.